REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS

March 2007

To read this entire item of approximately 725 words online now in PDF format: Click here to read this item if you are an existing subscriber to this publication. Click here to purchase the full text of this item to read now (price: $25). To subscribe to this publication and immediately access all its archives including this item, select the relevant publication under 'Catalogue' in the left-hand column PLEASE NOTE: to read PDFs on www.argento.com you must be using Version 5 of Acrobat Reader or Adobe Reader. If you have an earlier version you can download the latest free of charge by clicking here

Florida Announces Proposed Administrative Rule to Limit Nutrients in Urban Turf and Lawn Fertilizers

On January 31, 2007, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson announced a proposed rule that is intended to reduce the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen entering the state’s waters as a result of urban turf and lawn fertilizer application. The rule will operate by setting standards for approval of fertilizers for sale to consumers based on the amount of those nutrients they contain or are likely to release into the environment if used as directed. This proposed rule, (Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Agricultural Environmental Services Rule 5E-1.003) is a follow-on to a statute that requires all directions for use of fertilizers to be approved by the Department. Commissioner Bronson indicated in his press release that he expects the proposed rule to go into effect later this spring. The proposed rule was drafted after receiving input from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the water management districts, county officials, fertilizer manufacturers, and concerned citizens.